Exhaust machine



April 3, 1957 s. c. SHAPPELL 2,789,587

EXHAUST MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1955 INVENTOR.

A7TORNEY s. c., SHAPPELL pril 23, 1957 EXHAUST MACHINE s she'ets-sneet s PQWMWWWME as v z a April 23, 1957 s. c. SHAPPELL EXHAUST MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001'.- 31. 1955 INVENTOR.

mA/LEY c JHAP ELL W Arm/wry S. C. SHAPPELL April 23, 1957 EXHAUST MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001;. 31, 1955 5 INVENT OR Q STANLEY c. JHAPPELL' ATTORNEY United States Patent O EXHAUST MACHINE Stanley C. Shappell, West lloxford, Mass, assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc, Salem, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application Uetoher 31, 1955, Serial No. 543,673 18 Claims. (Cl. 141-65) This invention relates to machinery for manufacturing electric discharge devices, and more particularly to apparatus for exhausting and filling elongated tubular electric gaseous discharge devices, such as fluorescent lamps for example.

At the present time fluorescent lamps of various lengths are being manufactured. For example, some are two feet long, others are four feet long, and some are eight feet in length. Since expensive and complex machinery is used in the mass production of these lamps, it is most desirable that each item of manufacturing equipment be made as adaptable as possible to the performance of its respective operation in the manufacture of lamps of various sizes. One of the operations performed on a fluorescent lamp during the manufacture thereof is the exhausting of impurities therefrom and the introduction of mercury and a filling gas, such as argon for example.

Although the development of an exhaust machine of the type shown in the co-pending application of Dodge and Kimball, Serial No. 343,842, filed March 23, 1953, now Patent No. 2,726,799 of Dec. 13, 1955, made it possible to exhaust more lamps more efficiently than had been possible prior thereto, because the machine is of the continuous motion type in which, inter alia, a flushing gas is introduced into the lamp tube at one end thereof and the lamp tube is evacuated from the other end thereof, it is designed to perform its work on lamps of one. given length. Thus lamps of diiferent lengths require their own particular exhaust machines.

Accordingly, therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an exhaust machine which is readily adaptable to the manufacture of electric discharge devices of different lengths.

in the manufacture of electric gaseous discharge devices, such as fluorescent lamps for example, heat is usually applied to the lamps during exhaust in order to insure satisfactory and eflicient evacuation. Heretofore, the application of heat to the lamps has been effected by causing the lamps to pass through an oven during the exhausting operation. Thus the oven has constituted an enclosure not only for the lamps but also for a portion of the lamp supporting and carrying mechanisms. In View thereof, one of the problems involved in the development of an exhaust machine which is readily adaptable to the manufacture of electric discharge devices of different lengths is the construction and location of the neces: sary heating means for insuring satisfactory and efficient evacuation.

' the exhausting and filling operations have been completed,

In view thereof, a further object of this invention is Ciples: thereof, by. disposing a plurality of heads, which the devices are discharged from the heads onto a conveyor.

in the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of an exhaust machine showing particularly the pair of carriers, the means for effecting longitudinal adjustment of the carriers with respect to one another, and the means for driving the head-carrying spiders on the carriers.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the exhaust machine taken along the line 22 in Figure 1 showing one side elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one side of the loading.

conveyor.

Figure 4 is a plan view of one side of the unloading conveyor.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the oven.

Figure 6is a plan view of the oven with the roof thereof removed.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and. 2 thereof, the exhaust, machine shown therein comprises a spider 10 on which a plurality of heads 12 are mounted and a spider 14- on which a plurality of heads" 16. are mounted. Spider 10 is. keyed to a shaft l8ywhich is supported by hearings 20 and 22; and spider 14 is keyed to a shaft 24 which is supported by bearings 26. and 28. Bearing 22 is attached to pedestal 30 mounted of the loading and unloading conveyors in on carrier 32; and bearing 26 is attached to pedestal34n mounted on carrier 36. Carriers 32 and 36 are mounted on. ways 38 and iii of base 42. The carrier 32, in this embodiment of the invention, is fixedly mounted on the ways; and the carrier 36 is slidably mounted thereon, the r keyed, is driven by the main drive shaft 48 through sprocket 56 which is keyed to shaft 48, chain 58, and sprocket 69'which is keyed to shaft 24. The main drive shaft 48 is supported at its ends by bearings 62 and '64 mountedon pedestals 66 and 68 respectively, and intermediate its ends by hearing 65 mounted on bearing sup--' port 67 depending from carriage 36. The main drive shaft 48 is driven by a'motor 7&- Which is connected thereto through a belt 72, a worm gear drive 74 and'a' coupling 76.

As was mentioned above, the carrier 36 is slidably mounted on'ways 38 and4t). .The carriage 36 may be" moved along the ways 38 and 40 by manipulation of a hand-wheel 78 which is attached to a screw 80. The screw 80, which extends the entire length of the base 42,,

is supported at" its ends in bearings 82 and 84 and is provided with a threaded portion 86 intermediate its ends.

The threaded portion 86 engages a threaded nut 88, mounted in bearing support 67. The threaded portion.

86 of. screw lieswithin protective sleeves 90' and 92 which are attached to the sleeve portion of nut 88. Thus, when the hand-Wheel 78 is manipulated to move the carrier 36 closer to or further away from carrier 32, the

' threaded portion 86 of screw 80 is always enclosed and protected from foreign matter.

The heads 12 mounted on spider 10, the heads 16 mounted on spider 14, and the various operational devices and actuating mechanisms associated with them in the performance of the lamp exhausting and filling operations are substantially the same as those shown and described more fully in the co-pending application of Dodge and Kimball, Serial No. 343,842, filed March 23, 1953, and are shown and described in this application to the extent desirable for a clearer and more complete understanding of this invention.

' Referring now to the lefthand side of Figure 1, the shaft 18 is provided with a valve 94 and a valve 96, the stationary plates of which are fixedly attached to a valve plate support 98 mounted on an end pedestal 100. A manifold 102 is mounted on end pedestal 100 and is provided with a coupling 104 through which communication may be established to a source of vacuum. Communication from the lamp 1 through thehead 12 to the valve-94 is established through tubing 106; communication from the valve 94 to manifold 102 is established through tubing 108. Communication from a tipping torch 110, associated with head 12, to the valve 96 is established through tubing 112; comunication from the valve 96 to a source of combustible mixture for the tipping v torch '110 is established through tubing 114.

The head 12 is provided at its outer extremity with a cam follower 116 which, during at least a portion of the operating cycle of the exhaust machine, rides on a curved bar'cam 118 mounted on arms 120 attached to end pedestal 100. The tipping torch 110 is mounted on a rod 122, the outer extremity of which is provided with a cam follower 124. Thecam follower 124, during at least a portion of the operating cycle of the exhaust machine, rides 'on a curved bar cam 126 mounted on arms 120 attached to end pedestal 100. Bar cams 118 and 126,

' through their associated cam followers 116 and 124, actuate certain mechanisms of the head 12 and the tipping torch 110 as more fully shown and described in the abovereferenced co-pending application.

The pedestal 30 is provided with a bracket 128 having a curved surface on which commutator tracks 130 are mounted. The tracks 130, which are insulated from the bracket 128 on which they are mounted, are connected to a-source of electrical energy not shown. The tracks 130 are engaged, during at least a portion of the operating cycle of the exhaust machine, by flexible metal fingers 132 which are attached to but insulated from the rod 122. The flexible metal fingers 132 are, in turn, connected electrically to lead-wires extending from the lamp 1 in order that heating of the lamp electrode to which the lead-wires are connected may be effected during at least a portion of the operating cycle of the exhaust machine. Since the various operational devices and actuating mechanisms associated with heads 16 shown on the right hand side ofvFigure l are substantially the same in most respects as those associated with beads 12 shown on the left hand side of Figure 1 and just described, a similar detailed description thereof is believed to be unnecessary. However, certain dilferences, as more particularly shown and described in the above-referenced co-pending application, may be noted. For example, the heads 16 are provided with a mercury dispenser 134 for introducing mercury into the lamp 1 during an operating cycle of the exhaust machine. Manifold 102 associated with heads 12 is connected to a source of vacuum, whereas manifold 102a associated with heads 16 is connected through suitable pressure reduction valves 136 to a supply of flushing gas and a supply of lamp filling gas. The tubing 138 which connects the valves 136 to the gas supplies is flexible and long enough to maintain these connections {regardless of the position to which the carrier 36 is moved on the Ways 38 and 40.

Gripping of the tubulations extending from the ends of the lamp 1 to support it and to hermetically seal the tubulations within the heads 12 and 16, in order that exhausting and filling of the lamp may be accomplished, is effected, as more completely shown and described in the above-referenced co-pending application, by actuation of levers 140 and 142 of each of the heads (Fig. 2). These levers are actuated, on the lamp loading side of. the exhaust machine, when each of the heads moves past a spring-loaded arm 144 adjustably mounted on an arm support 146, the arm 144 being provided with a roller 148 which lies in the path of lever 140 and thus effects a displacement thereof. Similar devices, not shown, are located at the unloading side of the exhaust machine to release the lamp tubulations after the tipping torches 110 on the heads 12 and 16 have severed the lamp therefrom,

the rollers on the corresponding spring-loaded arms lying in the path of levers 142 and thus effecting a displacement thereof and release of the tubulations. Removal of these tubulations from the heads is pressed air through the head 12 discharges the tubulation therefrom, and blows it into chute 150 (Fig. l) and thence into tube 152 which is connected to a source of vacuum ,for removing the tubulations from the exhaust machine. Similarly, a tubulation in head 16 is discharged through chute 154 and tube 156.

The means for driving the loading conveyors 160 and the unloading conveyors 162 will now be described, ref- .erencc being made initially to Figures 1 and 2. These conveyors are driven by the main drive shaft 48, the loading and the unloading conveyors on the fixed carrier 32 being connected thereto through sprocket 5'0 and chain 52; and the loading and the unloading conveyors on the movable carrier 36 being connected thereto through sprocket 56 and chain 58. Since the means employed to drive the loading and the unloading conveyors associated with both carriers 32 and 36 are the same, only the means associated with movable carrier 36 will be described. Chain 58 meshes with sprocket 164- (Fig. 2) and thus drives shaft 166 to which the sprocket 164 is attached. Shaft 166 is supported in bearings 168 and 170 (Fig. l) and is provided with sprockets 172 and 174 intermediate its ends. Chain 176 meshes with sprocket 172 and drives the loader drive shaft 178. Chain 180 meshes with sprocket 174 and drives the unloader drive shaft described below.

The loading conveyor will now be described, reference being made initially to Figure 3. Plate 184, mounted on the carrier 36 and extending outwardly therefrom serves as a support for bracket 186 on which bearing housing 188 is mounted. Supporting bracket 190, which is adjustably mounted on pedestal 34 by means of key 191, is provided with bearing housings 192 and 194. Supporting bracket 196, which is attached to and extends outwardly from carrier 36, comprises base 198, side plates 200 and 202 and bearing housings 204 and 206. The loading conveyor drive shaft 178, which is provided with a sprocket 208 around which the loading conveyor drive chain 176 extends, is supported in bearings in bearing housings 188 and 204.

Lamp tubes 1 are carried to the heads of the exhaust machine by holders 210 which are attached to chains 212 and 214. Chain 212 is driven by shaft 178 through gear on one end of shaft 226 which extends through bearing, housing 206, the other end of shaft 226' being provided effected by COH'. nectingthe heads 12 and 16 through their respective valves 94 to a source of compressed air. A Short blast of comwith a sprocket 228 with which chain 214 meshes. Beari ousing 192 n 19 a p ovid th ch gu de 230 and 232 respectively. Chain 212 moves beneath chain guide 230 and around idler sprocket 234 on idler shaft 236 which is supported in bearings in bearing housing 192. Chain 214 moves beneath chain guide 232 and around idler sprocket 233 on idler shaft 240 which is supported in bearings in bearing housing 194. Idler sprocketspnot shown, supported by bearing housings 192 and 194, are disposed directly beneath idler sprockets 234 and 238 respectively, to guide the chains 212 and 2414 on their return travel.

' Adjustment of the loading conveyors 166 to permit feeding of lamp tubes of different diameters to the heads 12 and 16 of the exhaust machine is effected by adjustment of the supporting bracket 1% which, as was mentioned above, is keyed to pedestal 34. The supporting racket 190 is raised or lowered a distance calculated to bring the center line of the lamp tubes into the center line of the heads 12 and 16. The required distance may be pre-determined and settings made by means of an indexing block 241 which has several screws 243 projecting therefrom. Each screw 243 is related to a certain lamp tube diameter. Thus when lamp tubes of a certain diameter are to be loaded, the block 241 is indexed to bring the related screw 243 into contact with the base of pedestal 34, which serves as a stop to define the pre-determined distance the supporting bracket 190 is to be raised or lowered.

The unloading conveyor 162 will now be described, reference being made to Figures 2 and 4. As was mentioned above in the description of the means for driving the loading and unloading conveyors, the chain 180 meshes with sprocket 174 on drive shaft 166 (Fig. l). The chain 180 also meshes with sprocket 242 on shaft 244. The shaft 244 is supported at one end thereof in coupling 246 and at the other end thereof in bearing housing 248. The bearing housing 248 is mounted on bracket 25!) attached to plate 252 which is in turn attached to and extends outwardly from carrier 36. Bracket 254 supports sprockets 256 and 258 with which chain 180 meshes. The bracket 2.54 is mounted for angular adjustment on bracket 255 to permit tightening of chain 18%. Bracket 255 is attached to the underside of plate 252.

The unloading conveyor is mounted on a bracket 260 (Fig. 2) attached to and upstanding on carrier 36. A plate 262 (Fig. 4) attached to bracket 26% has a supporting plate 264 mounted on an end thereof. The supporting plate 264 is provided with bearing housings 266 and 268 at its extremities and an arm 270 mounted thereon intermediate its extremities, the arm 270 being provided with a bearing housing 272. Bearing housing 266 supports an axle on which sprockets 274 and 276 are mounted, chain 278 meshing with sprocket 274 and chain 230 meshing with sprocket 276. Bearing housing 272 supports an axle on which sprockets 282 and 284 are mounted, chain 278 meshing with sprocket 282 and chain 280 meshing with sprocket 284. The chains 278 and 280 are provided with a plurality of jaws 286 and 288 respectively. These jaws are related to one another to provide pairs of jaws which receive lamp tubes from the exhaust machine heads (Fig. 2) and deposit them on track 290. From the track 298, the lamp tubes are picked up by a suitable transfer mechanism or conveyor, a fragmentary portion of a device of this type being shown in phantom in Figure 4. 'As was mentioned above, the exhaust machine is adjustable to accommodate lamp tubes of different lengths. The unloading conveyor 162 is also adjustable to the extent that the relative location of each jaw in each pair or; jaws 286- 288 may be varied to receive lamp tubes of different diameters while maintaining the same center line therebetween. The chain 278 meshes with a crochet 292 which is attached to one end of spindle 294, the other end of the spindle being provided with an index plate 296. The chain 280 meshes with a sprocket 298 which is attached to one end of spindle 300 which extends through and is concentric with spindle 294, the other end of the spindle 300 being provided with an index plate 302. A third index plate, 304, is provided with a hub 3% and is keyed to shaft 308 which is connected to coupling 246. The index plates 296 and 302 are provided with similar graduations and the index plate 304 is provided with a reference line. These plates are normally fixedly attached to one another. When adjustment is to be effected, the bolts 310 are withdrawn from engagement with index plates 296 and 302, the plate 332 is rotated to bring the appropriate graduation thereon into register with the reference line on plate 38 the plate 296 is rotated tobring the appropriate graduation thereon into register with the reference line on plate 334, and the bolts 310 are returned to their locking position. Rotation of the index plates 296 and 362 effects movement of chains 278 and 280 respectively since they are connected to one another through their respective spindles and sprockets as described above. In this way, the jaws of each pair of jaws 286-288 are displaced with respect to one another to accommodate lamp tubes of various diameters.

The oven will now be described, reference being made particularly to Figures 5 and 6. The oven frame, which is fabricated primarily from angle iron and channel iron stock, comprises a channel iron base 312 attached to angle iron legs 314 intermediate their ends. Angle iron side supports 316 are mounted on the upper ends of legs 314. Bearing housing 318 and 329, mounted on side supports 316, support the oven conveyor drive shaft 322. Bearing housings 324 and 326, mounted on side supports 316, support the oven conveyor idler shaft 328. Idler shaft 328 is provided with a plurality of sprockets 330 and drive shaft 322 is provided with a plurality of sprockets 332. The several sprockets 330 are connected to the several sprockets 332 by chains 334, the upper reaches of which ride on chain tracks 335 mounted on brackets 337. Each of the chains 334 is provided with a plurality of fingers 336 attached thereto and upstanding thereon. The oven conveyor drive shaft 322 is driven by the main drive shaft 48 (Fig. 1) through sprocket 338 attached thereto, chain 340 which connects sprocket 338 to sprocket 342 on shaft 344, sprocket 346 on shaft 344, and chain 348 which connects sprocket 346 to sprocket 350 on the oven conveyor drive shaft 322. The oven conveyor drive shaft 322 and the oven conveyor idler shaft 328 are water-cooled, the piping network 352 being provided for this purpose.

The heating means with which the oven is provided comprises a plurality of pipes 354 substantially rectangular in cross-section extending parallel to the oven conveyor chains 33 The pipes 354 are provided with a plurality of burner ports 355. The burner pipes 354 are attached at two points intermediate their ends to support plates 356 mounted on top of posts 358 upstanding on channel iron bars 360 which are mounted on base members 362 attached to side supports 316. Since the burner support plates 356 lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper reaches of the chains 334, separate plates 356 are used between the upper reaches of the chains 334 in order to provide a free path therefor. Further support of the burner pipes 354 is effected by anchors 364 which connect each of the burner pipes 354 to a tube 366 mounted in brackets 36% attached to side supports 316. The roof 370 of the oven, which comprises a Pill. rality of sheets of stainless steel, is supported from the channel iron base 312 by channel iron legs 372 and channel iron cross bars 374.

Lamp tubes may be fed to the oven manually or by a suitable feeding mechanism. In either case, a lamp tube is. disposed initially in the position occupied by lamp tube 1a on the right side of Figure 5, i. e., resting on discs 376 mounted on idler shaft 328 and supported by fingers 336a o'nchains 334. As'the chains 334 advance the lamp tube la into the oven, the lamp tube in rolls off of the discs 376 and onto rods 378. The rods 378 are mounted on brackets 380 which are attached to channel iron bars 366. Due to the inclination of the'rods 378, the lamp tube it: rolls away from fingers 336w and into engagement with the fingers imediately forward thereof, assuming the position occupied by lamp tube lb (Fig. 5) in engagement with fingers 336b. In order to define a free path for the fingers 336 as they enter the space between the burner pipes 354 and to protect the burner pipes therefrom, plates 3 32 (Fig. 6) are mounted on the burner pipes 354 to guide the fingers 336 into the spaces between the burner pipes.

As the lamp tubes advance through the oven they are heatedby the burners, to which a combustible mixture is supplied by manifold 384 through tubing The lamp tubes are'heated to a degree suiiicient to insure efficient and adequate exhausting on the exhaust machine to which the lamp tubes are fed from the oven. tubes approach the exit of the oven they move into engageinent with the periphery of discs 3% attached to shaft 322. When the lamp tubes move off of the rods 3755, they are supported by the discs 388 and carried by the fingers 336 until they are removed therefrom by the holders 210 of the loading conveyor 160 described above and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The oven is designed particularly for use in conjunction with an exhaust machine of the type shown in Figures l and 2, i. e., an exhaust machine in which the heads to vhich one end of the lamp tubes are connected are adjustable longitudinally with respect to the heads to which the other end of the lamp tubes are connected in order to accommodate lamp tubes of different lengths. Thus the burner pipes 354 are disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the longitudinal axis of the lamp tube is disposed as it moves through the oven. Since each burner pipe 354 is provided with its own tubing 386 connecting it to the manifold, individual valves 387 are provided to permit regulation of the flow of gas to each burner pipe 354. This arrangement insures eificient operation of the oven because, when relatively short lamp tubes are to be heated, only those burners lying in the path to be traversed by the lamp tubes have to be ignited. Similarly, when relatively longer lamp tubes are to be heated, such additional burners as necessary may be ignited.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior'thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers having a plurality of heads disposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said carriers being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; and means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted.

2. In apparatus or exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers having a plurality of heads disposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said carriers being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to'the other while maintaining the said heads there- As the lamp on in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; means dis'posedon one side of said apparatus for feeding electrid'discharge devices to said heads; and means disposed on the opposite side of said apparatus for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads. 7 i

3. In apparatus for exhausting electric discha'rge'de, vices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base'member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base ember with respect to'the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers having a plurality of heads disposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said car riers being disposed in axial alignment with correspond; ing heads on the other of said carriers; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to'the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; means mounted on one side of each of said carriers for feeding electric discharge devices to said heads; and means mounted on the opposite side of each of said carriers for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads.

4. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of heads disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said spiders being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said spiders; means for driving said shafts continuously to move the heads on said spiders along a predetermined path; and means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted.

5. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of heads disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said spiders being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said spiders; means for driving said shafts continuously to move the heads on said spiders along a predetermined path; means for efiecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; means disposed on one'side of said apparatus for feeding electric dischargedevices to said heads; and means disposed on the opposite side of said apparatus for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads.

6. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with .respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said-shaft, and a plurality of heads, disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the,- open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said amass? spiders being disposed in axialalignment with. corresponding heads on the other of saidv spiders; meansfor driving said shafts continuously to move theheads on saidspidersl along a predetermined path; means for efiectingrelative. longitudinal movement of at least one of, said carriers with respect to the other While maintaining the. said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; means mounted on one side; of each of said carriers for, feeding electric dischargev devices to said heads; and means: mounted, on the opposite side of each of said carriers for receiving electric. discharge devices from said heads.

7. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end. extending into the, interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said basemember, each of said carriers having a plurality of, heads disposed. thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said carriers being disposedin axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; heating means disposed adjacent to the loading side of said carriers for heating electric discharge devices; means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said heads; and means for adjusting the position of said; transferring means to bring the center line of devices carried by said transferring means into coincidence with, the center. line of said heads.

8. In apparatus for exhausting electric discha g. devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of; a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, and each of said carriers having a, plurality of heads disposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said carriers being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; means, disposed on one side of said apparatus for feeding electric discharge de-. vices to said heads; means for adjusting the elevation of said feeding means to bring the center line of devices carried by said feeding means into coincidence with the center line of said heads; means disposed on the. opposite side of said apparatus for receiving. electric discharge devices from said heads; heating means disposed adjacent to the said one side of said apparatus for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said feeding means.

9. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge de' vices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member;- a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, and each of said carriers having a plurality of headsdisposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said carriers being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; means mounted on one side of each of said carriers for feeding electric discharge devices to said heads; means for adjusting-the elevation of said feeding means to bring the center line of devices carried by said feeding means into coincidence with the center line of said heads; means mounted on the opposite side of each of said carriers for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads; heating means disposed adjacent to the said one side of each of said carriers for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said feeding means.

10. in apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of heads disposed 10 on, said'spider for hermetically engaging the open ends at. said de c h hea s on one f sai p ders. b ng disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said spiders, and the said shafts being disposed in axial alignment; means for driving said shaftscontinuously and 'n synchronism to move the heads on said spiders along a pre-determined path; heating means dis posed adjacent to the loading side of said carriers for heating electric discharge devices; and means for trans: ferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said heads.

ll. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of heads disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of saidspiders being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the, other of said spiders, and the said shafts being dlc posed in axial alignment; means for driving said shafts continuously. and in synchronism to move the heads on said spiders along a predetermined path; means disposed on one side of said apparatus for feeding electric discharge devices to said heads; means for adjusting the position of said feeding means to bring the center line of devices carried by said feeding means into coincidence with the center line of said heads; means disposed on the opposite side of said apparatus for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads; heating means dis: posed adjacent to the said one side of said apparatus for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transfe rring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said feeding means.

12. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge de-. vices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said shart, and a plurality of heads disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said spiders being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said spiders; means for driving said shafts continuously to move the heads on said spiders along a pre-determined path; means mounted on one side of each of said carriers for feeding electric discharge de-. vices to said heads; means for adjusting the elevation of said feeding means to bring the center line of devices carried by said feeding means into coincidence with the center line of said heads; means mounted on the opposite side of each of said carriers for receiving electric discharge devices f rom said heads; heating means disposed adjacent to the said one side of each of said carriers for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said feeding means.

l3. Inapparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having-an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers having a plurality of heads disposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said carriers being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; heating means disposed adjacent to the loading side of said cat'- 11 rlers'for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said heads. 7

14. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers having a plurality of heads disposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said car riers being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, Whereby devicesof different lengths may be exhausted; means disposed on one side of said apparatus for feeding electric discharge devices to said heads; means disposed on the opposite side of said apparatus for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads; heating means disposed adjacent to the said one side of said apparatus for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said feeding means.

15. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers having a plurality of heads disposed thereon for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said carriers being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said carriers; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; means mounted on one side of each of said carriers for feeding electric discharge devices to said heads; means mounted on the opposite side of each of said carriers for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads; heating means disposed 'adjacent'to the said one side of each of said carriers for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating means to said feeding means.

16. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudi-- nally on said base member with respect to the other of saidcarriers, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of heads disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said spiders being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said spiders; means for driving said shafts continuously to move the heads on said spiders along a pre-determined path; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with-respect to the other while maint'aining'the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; heating means disposed adjacent to the loading side of said carriers for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring'the heated electric discharge devices from saidheating means to said heads.

17. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft. a spider mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of heads disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said spiders being disposed in axial alignment with corresponding heads on the other of said spiders; means for driving said shafts continuously to move the heads on said spiders along a predetermined path; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said heads thereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; means disposed on one side of said apparatus for feeding electric discharge devices to said heads; means disposed on the opposite side of said apparatus for receiving electric discharge devices from said heads; heating means disposed adjacent to the said one side of said apparatus for heating electric discharge devices; and means for transferring the heated electric discharge devices from said heating meansto said feeding means.

18. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices having an opening at each end extending into the interior thereof, the combination of: a base member; a pair'of spaced carriers mounted on said base member, at least one of said carriers being movable longitudinally on said base member with respect to the other of said carriers, and each of said carriers comprising a shaft, a spider mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of heads disposed on said spider for hermetically engaging the open ends of said devices, the heads on one of said spiders being disposed in axial alignment with cor-. responding heads on the other of said spiders; means for driving said shafts continuously to move the heads on said spiders along a pre-determined path; means for effecting relative longitudinal movement of at least one of said carriers with respect to the other while maintaining the said headsthereon in axial alignment, whereby devices of different lengths may be exhausted; means mounted on one side of each of said carriers for feeding electric, discharge devices to'said heads; means mounted on the opposite side of each of said carriers for receivingelectn'c discharge devices from said heads; heating means disposed adjacent to the said one side of each of said carriers for heating electric discharge devices; and means for-transferring the heated electric discharge devices from 'saidqheating means to said feeding means.

No references cited. 

